A POLICY PROCESS MODEL: ANALYSIS OF THE NURSE EDUCATION ACT OF 1991-1992.
Contributors: George Mason University.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 203
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Political Science, General.; Education, Administration.
Description: The purpose of this exploratory case study was to examine an investigator-developed public policy process model. The Tri-Council For Nursing's political efforts during the 1991-1992 reauthorization of the Nurse Education Act served as an exemplary case to initiate the exploration of the model. Primary data were collected via a researcher designed questionnaire and interview guide that operationalized the policy process model. A purposive sample of 15 members of the Tri-Council For Nursing, U.S. Division of Nursing, and U.S. congressional staff completed the questionnaire and were interviewed. More than 75 public documents and records were reviewed as secondary sources of data. Data examination included nonparametric statistical analyses of numerical data and content analysis of categorical data, using the conceptual schema of the policy process model as a guide.

The findings supported the conceptual categories and organization of the policy process model. This first case exploration advanced the model's ability to discern perceptual differences among political actors efforts and corresponding policy stages. For instance, significant differences between government and Tri-Council For Nursing respondents' perceptions of the policy priorities and the frequency, effectiveness, and type of political efforts used by the Tri-Council For Nursing were readily deduced. Thematic findings from the content analysis revealed how the Tri-Council For Nursing shifted from using proactive and intradependent efforts during the initial agenda-setting phase of the NEA's reauthorization to mostly reactive and independent efforts for the remainder of the policy process. The Tri-Council For Nursing used different political strategies throughout the process, but were greatest in number during agenda setting. Other findings relative to the case's political points of contact, policy conflict areas, majority support building techniques, and forecasted roles with the NEA's implementation and evaluation were discerned.

Implications for future development of the policy process model and areas for expanded investigation of the exemplary case of the Tri-Council For Nursing were given.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-02, Section: B, page: 0742.

Thesis (PH.D.)--GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, 1993.

School code: 0883.